U.S. patent number 5,438,184 [Application Number 08/143,573] was granted by the patent office on 1995-08-01 for method and apparatus for electronic cash transactions.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Verifone Inc.. Invention is credited to James S. Arakaki, Alan B. Roberts.
United States Patent |
5,438,184 |
Roberts , et al. |
August 1, 1995 |
Method and apparatus for electronic cash transactions
Abstract
A paystation device adapted to be coupled to a transaction
terminal for carrying out a transaction between a seller and a
buyer using a smart card having a cash token value stored therein
and having a current cash token value. A smart card interface
accepts insertion of a smart card for reading a current cash token
value stored therein and for writing a new cash token value
thereto. A display device displays cash amounts. A communication
interface communicates data messages between the paystation device
and the transaction terminal. A programmed control unit is coupled
to and operates the smart card interface, the display device, and
the communication interface.
Inventors: |
Roberts; Alan B. (Palo Alto,
CA), Arakaki; James S. (Loomis, CA) |
Assignee: |
Verifone Inc. (Redwood City,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22504648 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/143,573 |
Filed: |
October 26, 1993 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/380;
902/22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
7/1008 (20130101); G06Q 20/341 (20130101); G06Q
20/363 (20130101); G06Q 20/229 (20200501); G07F
7/0866 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
7/08 (20060101); G07F 7/10 (20060101); G06K
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;902/22,26
;235/379,380 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Evans; F. L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bergstedt; Lowell C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of carrying out a transaction between a buyer and a
seller using a smart card having a cash token stored therein with a
current cash token value, the steps of:
disposing on the seller's premises at a location separated from a
transaction station a lookstation device having a distinctive
Lookstation Symbol associated therewith, said lookstation device
being adapted for insertion by a buyer of a smart card followed by
automatic read and display to the buyer of the current cash token
value stored therein to inform the buyer of his cash purchasing
power;
disposing on the seller's premises at said transaction station a
paystation device having a distinctive Paystation Symbol associated
therewith and being coupled to a transaction terminal for
participating in carrying out a transaction by means of the steps
of:
a. the transaction terminal communicating to said paystation device
a cash transaction amount;
b. the paystation device displaying said cash transaction
amount;
c. the buyer inserting into said paystation device a smart card
having a cash token stored therein to indicate acceptance of said
cash transaction;
d. the paystation device reading the current cash token value in
said inserted smart card;
e. the paystation device calculating a new cash token value as the
difference between said current cash token value and said cash
transaction amount;
f. the paystation device automatically writing said new cash token
value into said cash token of said smart card without further
action by the buyer; and
g. the paystation device communicating a cash transaction
completion message to said transaction terminal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step c. may be carried out
before or after steps a. and b. and further comprising the step
of:
d.1. the paystation device displaying said current cash token value
if said step c. carried out before steps a. and b.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step
h. the paystation device displaying in sequence on a single line
display said current cash token value, said cash transaction
amount, and said new cash token value.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step b. is carried out by
displaying said cash transaction amount on a display line dedicated
to the cash transaction amount parameter and appropriately labeled
to inform the buyer; and further comprising the steps of:
d.1. the paystation device displaying said current cash token value
on a display line dedicated to the current cash token value
parameter and appropriately labeled to inform the buyer; and
e.1. the paystation device displaying said new cash token value on
a display line dedicated to the new cash token value parameter and
appropriately labeled to inform the buyer.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
d.1. the paystation device comparing said current cash token value
with said cash transaction amount and declaring a transaction error
if said cash transaction amount is greater than said current cash
token value.
6. A method of carrying out a transaction between a buyer and a
seller using a smart card having a cash token stored therein with a
current cash token value and utilizing a paystation device coupled
to a transaction terminal comprising the steps of:
a. the transaction terminal communicating to said paystation device
a cash transaction amount;
b. the paystation device displaying said cash transaction
amount;
c. the paystation device reading the current cash token value
stored in a smart card inserted by the buyer to signify an offer to
pay the cash transaction amount using said cash token stored in
said smart card;
d. the paystation device calculating a new cash token value as the
difference between said current cash token value and said cash
transaction amount;
e. the paystation device automatically writing said new cash token
value into said cash token of said smart card without further
action by the buyer; and
f. the paystation device automatically communicating a cash
transaction message to said transaction terminal.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:
d.1. the paystation comparing said current cash token value with
said cash transaction amount and declaring a transaction error if
said cash transaction amount is greater than said current cash
token value.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein
said step b. is carried out by displaying said cash transaction
amount on a display line dedicated to the cash transaction amount
parameter and appropriately labeled to inform the buyer; and
further comprising the steps of:
c.1. the paystation device displaying said current cash token value
on a display line dedicated to the current cash token value
parameter and appropriately labeled to inform the buyer7 and
d.2. the paystation device displaying said new cash token value on
a display line dedicated to the new cash token value parameter and
appropriately labeled to inform the buyer if the comparison in step
d.1. indicates that the transaction can be completed, and
alternatively,
d.3. the paystation device blinking the display of current cash
token value and sounding an error indication to inform the buyer if
the comparison in step d.1. indicates that the transaction can not
be completed.
9. A paystation device adapted to be coupled to a transaction
terminal for carrying out a transaction between a seller and a
buyer using a smart card having a cash token value stored therein
and having a current cash token value and comprising:
smart card interface means for accepting insertion of a smart card,
for reading a current cash token value stored therein, and for
writing a new cash token value thereto;
a display means for displaying cash amounts;
a communication interface for communicating data messages between
said paystation device and said transaction terminal;
programmed control means coupled to said smart card interface
means, said display means, and said communication interface and
comprising:
means for receiving a cash transaction amount from said transaction
terminal via said communication interface;
means for operating said display means to display said cash
transaction amount;
means for operating said smart card interface means to read the
current cash token value stored in a card inserted therein; and
means responsive to the combination of receipt of a cash
transaction amount and presence of
a smart card in said smart card interface means for automatically
and without other input from the buyer:
calculating a new cash token value as the difference between said
current cash token
value and said cash transaction amount;
operating said smart card interface means to write said new cash
token value into said smart card; and
sending a transaction message to said transaction terminal via said
communication interface.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said display means
comprises a three line display;
said means for operating said displaying means displays said cash
transaction amount on the middle line of said three line display,
said current cash token value on the top line of said three line
display, and said new cash token value on the bottom line of said
three line display.
Description
This application is related to a co-pending and commonly assigned
application of Nakamura et al, bearing Ser. No. 08/071,283, filed
Jun. 2, 1993, and entitled: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REVALUATION OF
STORED TOKENS IN IC CARDS. The content of this co-pending
application is incorporated by reference herein to provide
additional background information pertinent to this invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for carrying out a
cash transaction utilizing an integrated circuit card, also known
as a smart card, with a cash token stored in the card.
One of the uses of smart cards that is currently being considered
is the electronic purse. This concept involves storing cash token
information in the smart card. The cardholder then uses the
Electronic Purse to make cash purchases. The Electronic Purse smart
card is inserted into a terminal at a transaction station to
indicate payment by cash stored on the smart card. The value of the
cash purchase is subtracted from the Electronic Purse and added to
an electronic cash file of the merchant for later settlement with a
bank. The preferred Electronic Purse system permits upward
revaluation of the cash token using special terminals and ATM
systems. The goal of an Electronic Purse system is to be a
substitute for carrying money tokens in the form of government
issued paper bills and metal coins- one Electronic Purse smart card
in the wallet or purse instead of a wad of paper bills and a
pocketful of change.
To achieve acceptance, an Electronic Purse system must be at least
as convenient as obtaining, carrying and using paper and metal
money, and preferably, more convenient. Several challenges must be
met to achieve this level of convenience:
1. System elements must make it easy to add cash value to the
Electronic Purse- at least as easy as obtaining paper money from an
ATM. Greater than ATM access would promote widespread acceptance of
the Electronic Purse.
2. System elements must make it easy for the holder of the
Electronic Purse to `see` the amount of cash stored in the
Electronic Purse before starting a purchase activity.
3. System elements must make completing an Electronic Purse
transaction at least as easy as using paper and metal money.
Challenge 1
To meet challenge 1, at a minimum, ATMs must have the capability to
add cash value to an Electronic Purse. It would also be helpful to
have special Electronic Purse revalue stations in major stores and
other public locations. The Personal ATM invention in the
above-referenced patent application provides the ultimate
convenience, enabling a person to add cash value to Electronic
Purse from a private location, e.g. home or office. The Personal
ATM eliminates a trip to a public ATM location to obtain cash,
making an Electronic Purse more convenient than paper-based
cash.
Challenge 2
The Personal ATM described in the above-referenced patent
application also makes it easy to see the cash value in an
Electronic Purse at home or office, but not all holders of an
Electronic Purse will have a Personal ATM. Equipment must also be
available at stores to permit use of an Electronic Purse to see
their stored cash balance well in advance of committing to a
purchase.
Challenge 3
People are accustomed to paying for transactions with paper money
and coins or by writing a personal check. With the advent of credit
cards and point-of-sale transaction terminals with credit
verification capabilities, people became accustomed to paying for
transactions with a credit card. More recently, debit cards have
become more popular and on-line debit transactions with money
directly debited from the persons bank account have become
increasingly routine. However, these automated transaction methods
are perceived as taking longer than using cash and involving more
hassle. They are typically used where high purchase value is
involved, but have not achieved heavy penetration in low value
purchases, especially in high customer volume locations where a
quick and easy transaction is desired by the immediate purchaser
and persons waiting in line behind them. To encourage people to use
an Electronic Purse, the ease of completing a transaction must be
equivalent to or better than paying by cash.
Traditional approaches to transaction processing involve many
interactive steps between the person and the machine. Thus a
traditional approach to carrying out an Electronic Purse
transaction would involve these steps:
1. display prompts "Insert Card"
2. holder inserts card
3. system reads card and displays "Card Balance"
4. after the transaction is totaled, display indicates "Purchase
Amount" and request confirmation
5. holder presses "Yes" button to proceed
6. new card balance is calculated, stored and displayed
7. display prompts "Remove Card"
This transaction sequence can easily take 10-30 seconds depending
on the attentiveness of the card holder and familiarity with the
steps involved. This amount of time is not likely to promote use of
the Electronic Purse over other competing transaction methods.
It should thus be apparent that acceptance of the Electronic Purse
will require more advantageous methods and apparatus for use of the
system.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved
method and system for use of an Electronic Purse in carrying out
transactions.
It is another object of this invention to provide an intuitive and
context sensitive method and apparatus for Electronic Purse
transactions.
FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of this invention comprises a method of carrying out a
transaction between a buyer and a seller using a smart card having
a cash token stored therein with a current cash token value. The
method involves disposing on the seller's premises at a location
separated from a transaction station a lookstation device having a
distinctive Lookstation Symbol associated therewith. The
lookstation device is adapted for insertion by a buyer of a smart
card, followed by automatic read and display to the buyer of the
current cash token value stored therein to inform the buyer of his
cash purchasing power. The method also includes disposing on the
seller's premises at a transaction station a paystation device
having a distinctive Paystation Symbol associated therewith and
being coupled to a transaction terminal for participating in
carrying out a transaction by means of the following steps:
a. the transaction terminal communicating to the paystation device
a cash transaction amount;
b. the paystation device displaying the cash transaction
amount;
c. the buyer inserting into the paystation device a smart card
having a cash token stored therein to indicate acceptance of the
cash transaction;
d. the paystation device reading the current cash token value in
the inserted smart card;
e. the paystation device calculating a new cash token value as the
difference between the current cash token value and the cash
transaction amount;
f. the paystation device automatically writing the new cash token
value into the cash token of the smart card without further action
by the buyer; and
g. the paystation device communicating a cash transaction
completion message to the transaction terminal.
The advantage of this transaction method is that both the
lookstation device and paystation device carry out their respective
activities without any buyer interaction other than inserting the
Electronic Purse smart card into the card reader slot of the
device. The Lookstation Symbol and the Paystation Symbol advise the
buyer what transaction is being carried out by the terminal at that
station. The lookstation device gives the holder of an Electronic
Purse a quick look at the available cash, satisfying Challenge 2
above.
The tender of the Electronic Purse smart card to the paystation is
the buyer's offer to pay using value stored in the card without the
buyer having to push any buttons to agree to the amount of the
transaction. The transaction is off line because of the background
understanding that the Electronic Purse smart card is a bearer
token, just like paper money. The lookstation will authenticate the
genuineness of the Electronic Purse smart card similar to a clerk
visually checking if a tendered bill is counterfeit. The entire
transaction can be carried out in two or three seconds or less
after the buyer has inserted the Electronic Purse smart card into
the paystation device. The Electronic Purse transaction will be
faster than use of paper money, especially when the seller's clerk
has to make change from the till.
Another aspect of this invention involves a paystation device
adapted to be coupled to a transaction terminal for carrying out a
transaction between a seller and a buyer using a smart card having
a cash token value stored therein and having a current cash token
value. The paystation device includes a smart card interface for
accepting insertion of a smart card, for reading a current cash
token value stored therein, and for writing a new cash token value
thereto, a display for displaying cash amounts, a communication
interface for communicating data messages between the paystation
device and the transaction terminal, and a programmed control
device coupled to the smart card interface the display, and the
communication interface. The programmed control device includes the
following elements:
means for receiving a cash transaction amount from the transaction
terminal via the communication interface;
means for operating the display means to display the cash
transaction amount;
means for operating the smart card interface means to read the
current cash token value stored in a card inserted therein; and
means responsive to the combination of receipt of a cash
transaction amount and presence of a smart card in the smart card
interface means for automatically and without other input from the
buyer:
calculating a new cash token value as the difference between the
current cash token value and the cash transaction amount;
operating the smart card interface means to write the new cash
token value into the smart card; and
sending a transaction message to the transaction terminal via the
communication interface.
The advantages of this form of paystation apparatus are the same as
the ones set forth above relative to the transaction method of this
invention.
Other object, features and advantages of this invention will be
apparent from a consideration of the following description and the
appended claims in conjunction with the associated drawing
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a Lookstation device in accordance
with this invention.
FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a Lookstation terminal in
accordance with this invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the use of a Lookstation terminal in
accordance with this invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a Lookstation
terminal in accordance with this invention.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a Paystation device in accordance
with this invention coupled to a transaction terminal.
FIGS. 6, 7A-7C, and 8A-8C illustrate alternative display
arrangements for a Lookstation terminal in accordance with this
invention.
FIG. 9 is a block schematic diagram of a Paystation terminal in
accordance with this invention coupled to a transaction
terminal.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating operation of one embodiment of
a Paystation terminal in accordance with this invention.
FIG. 10A is a partial flow chart illustrating an alternative
operation of a Paystation terminal embodiment in accordance with
this invention.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating operation of another
embodiment of a Paystation terminal in accordance with this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 5, a description of the principles
of the present invention will be given. FIG. 1 illustrates a
"Lookstation" 10 and FIG. 5 illustrates a "Paystation" 50. The
purpose of Lookstation 10 is to enable an Electronic Purse holder
to look into the Electronic Purse and see the cash value stored
therein. The purpose of Paystation 50 is to enable an Electronic
Purse holder to pay for a purchase with the cash value stored in
the Electronic Purse.
Lookstation 10 and Paystation 50 have associated symbologies that
visually identify their functions. For example, Lookstation 10 has
a terminal 11 mounted on wall 12 with a bright yellow circle 13
behind the terminal. Paystation 50 has terminal 51 similarly
mounted on a bright green triangle 53. As the name implies,
terminal 11 at Lookstation 10 functions to accept insertion of an
Electronic Purse smart card to enable the holder of an Electronic
Purse to see the current cash token value in the card displayed on
terminal 11. Similarly, terminal 51 at Paystation 50 accepts
insertion of an Electronic Purse to enable the holder to spend some
of the current cash token value on the card. The colored
symbologies enable persons to easily identify this functionality
after minimal exposure.
Each of the terminals 11 and 51 of Lookstation 10 and Paystation 50
looks, and is, simple and easy to use. Terminal 11 comprises
essentially a case 15, a card slot 17, and a display 16.
Paystation 50 has similar elements, a case 55, a display 56, and a
card slot 57, although the display may be larger and show more
parameters. There are no buttons to push or other complicating
elements.
The simplicity of appearance and use of these units is predicated
on the concept that the Electronic Purse will be a bearer
instrument very much like paper money or coin. In other words, it
will be assumed that the person carrying the Electronic Purse is in
proper possession of it and has the right to use the current cash
token value stored therein. Accordingly, there is no keypad to
insert a PIN for verifying the identity of the holder and
legitimating possession and use of the Electronic Purse.
Lookstation 10 enables the bearer to see how much electronic cash
is stored on the Electronic Purse represented by card 18 by simply
inserting card 18 in slot 17 and reading the balance displayed on
display 16. FIG. 3A shows the terminal before the card is entered,
with all "0" display elements (or equivalent to indicate that the
unit is `alive`). FIG. 3B shows the terminal with card inserted and
balance of $16.45 displayed.
Paystation 50 enables the bearer of the Electronic Purse to spend
some of the stored cash value by simply inserting card 18 in slot
57 of terminal 51. The act of inserting the card is itself the
bearer's offer to use the stored cash value to pay for the
transaction. As will be discussed in more detail below, the
transaction terminal 100 will communicate the transaction amount to
Paystation terminal 51 and ultimately receive back a message that
the amount has been paid by withdrawal from the stored value on
card 18. The cardholder's security in the transaction is based on
the fact that only the terminal 51 has the ability to alter the
stored cash value of the card 18. The transaction terminal 100 can
only send to the Paystation terminal 51 a proposed transaction
amount which will be displayed on display 56. Transaction terminal
100 has no direct control over the reading and writing of card 18
and thus no possibility of taking more value from the card than the
transaction amount sent over the communication link.
There are various paradigms or protocols that can be employed in
Paystation 50, but all essentially involve an offer to pay by
insertion of card 18 and thus not requiring the pushing of buttons
or other actions to tender payment. This makes the transaction very
fast once the transaction total is available. If card 18 has
already been inserted into card slot 57, security checks will have
been run and cash balance already read from the smart card 18 and
the other steps can be completed in less than a second. Even if the
cardholder waits to put in the card until the purchase amount is
displayed, the transaction steps will then be completed in a one or
two seconds at most. This is much faster than any credit card or
debit card transaction requiring on-line authorization from a host
computer, and also faster and more convenient than a cash
transaction using paper money and coin, especially if counting out
of change is involved as is typical in completing a cash
transaction.
In a business establishment, Lookstations will be placed at various
convenient locations, near entrances for example, so that a
potential customer can look up the cash value on the Electronic
Purse before starting any shopping activity or before queuing up to
order at a food counter or the like. This enables the bearer of an
Electronic Purse to "open his wallet" to see if there is enough
money to make contemplated purchases.
One the other hand, Paystations will be placed at transaction
counters along with transaction terminals so that they can be
deployed for accepting Electronic Purse payments.
Lookstation 10 - Structure and Function
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, exemplary structural and functional
elements of terminal 11 at Lookstation 10 will be discussed. The
electronic elements of terminal 10 comprise a programmed
microcontroller 20 interfaced to a smart card reader 21 and to a
display 16 through display driver 22. Smart card reader 21 may be a
simplified version of a smart card reader/writer module which would
be required in read/write applications involving terminal and card
security considerations. The background assurance given to the
holder of the Electronic Purse is that the Lookstation terminal is
only capable of reading and displaying the stored cash balance and
specifically is not capable of altering any information stored in
the Electronic Purse. Other than for this security of background
assurances, there is no operational security requirement. The only
operation desired is to read the stored cash token value and send
it to display If card 18 has multiple token values, smart card
reader 21 only has to be able to identify which token to read and
pass the data to microcontroller 20.
The program running in microcontroller 20 may comprise the simple
steps shown in FIG. 4. Step 30 involves checking whether a card is
inserted in reader 21. Microcontroller 20 may be set up on an
interrupt basis with smart card reader 21 sending an interrupt
signal to microcontroller 20 when a card is inserted. If step 30
returns Yes, step 31 is executed to read the cash balance on the
smart card 18. Smart card reader 21 will typically include
intelligence for sending appropriate messages to smart card 18 to
retrieve the stored cash token value and pass it to microcontroller
20 on a data bus. Following this, step 32 is executed to send the
cash balance to display 16.
It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that additional
process steps could be included, such as checking to see if the
card has been removed after the cash balance has been displayed for
several seconds, sounding a buzzer or other audible alert if the
card is left in longer than is reasonable, and erasing the display
after the card is withdrawn. As is well known, other programs, such
as diagnostic routines, may be included in microcontroller 20.
Preferably, Lookstation terminal 11 is kept as simple as possible
to enable low manufacturing cost and thus encourage placement of
units at multiple locations for customer convenience.
Paystation 50 - Structure and Function
Referring first to FIGS. 5-8, some alternative embodiments of
Paystation terminal 51 will be discussed. FIG. 6 shows a single
line display 56A which may be used to display the transaction
amount. One version of Paystation terminal utilizes such a single
line display solely for displaying the transaction amount and a
rigid transaction protocol sequence which requires the cardholder
to wait for the transaction amount to be displayed before inserting
card 18. Card insertion then signals agreement with the purchase
amount and this amount is deducted from the stored cash token
balance. Neither the initial cash token value nor the new cash
token value are displayed under this protocol.
A variation on this rigid protocol would be to allow the cardholder
to insert the card before the transaction amount is sent over from
the transaction terminal and have the stored cash token value read
and displayed. To keep the protocol rigid in use of card insertion
as the act which is acceptance of the transaction amount, the
cardholder must withdraw the card to permit the transaction amount
to be received and displayed. Then the cardholder must re-insert
the card to accept and compete the transaction.
It should be apparent that a less rigid protocol could be used,
permitting the cardholder to leave card 18 in slot 57 to accept
that the transaction will be completed with whatever transaction
value is sent over from the terminal. Under this less rigid
protocol, any dispute on the transaction amount would have to be
settled with cash out of the till of the cash register.
FIGS. 7A-7C illustrates a transaction protocol which uses a single
line display 56B with a time-shared display of transaction
parameters, FIG. 7A shows a display of card balance before the
transaction and lighting of "Balance" display field 57. FIG. 7B
shows a display of the purchase amount and lighting of associated
"Purchase" field. FIG. 7C shows a display of the new card balance
and "New Bal" field after the transaction is completed. Any of the
above protocols could use this time-shared display.
FIGS. 8A to 8C show the use of a three line display 56C so that the
three transaction parameters can be displayed concurrently, making
it easy for the cardholder to do the simple arithmetic to verify
that the new balance on the card correctly reflects subtracting the
purchase amount from the prior card balance.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of system components of Paystation
terminal 51. Microcontroller 60 communicates with point-of-sale
terminal 100 via communication interface 61 which may be any
standard communication interface such as an RS232 serial data link.
A display driver 62 provides microcontroller 60 with an interface
to display 56. A smart card reader-writer unit 63 provides the data
reading and writing operations on card 18 and functions together
with security module 65 and security control card 66 to enable card
18 and terminal 51 to authenticate each other as a prerequisite of
completing a transaction. These units and the security protocols
are well known in the smart card industry and need not be described
in detail here. Beeper 64 is provided to enable microcontroller 60
to give audible signals to the card holder.
FIG. 10 illustrates steps of a "Do Transaction" program which may
be utilized in the system of FIG. 9 with a single line display.
Steps 70 and 71 sequentially check whether a transaction amount has
been received and whether a card has been inserted. If both steps
return NO, the program returns to start over and the steps are
executed again. In a typical hardware-software environment, these
checking steps are actually represented by interrupts received from
peripherals or interface units when some condition has changed,
such as card insertion or data being received. If the cardholder
inserts his card before the transaction amount is communicated,
step 70 will return NO, but step 71 will return Yes, and step 72
will then be executed to read and display the card balance, i.e.
the current cash token value stored on card 18. Then the program
will return to wait for the transaction amount.
If a rigid protocol as described above is used, the process would
be altered so that the transaction amount is not received and
displayed unless there is no card inserted in the terminal.
When the transaction amount has been received, step 70 returns YES
and then step 73 is executed to display the transaction amount.
Checking step 74 verifies whether the card has been inserted and
loops until a card insertion is detected. Once the card has been
inserted, step 75 is executed to run a security or authentication
check on the card and then to read the card balance. The
authentication between card and terminal may be mutual, i.e. the
card may authenticate the terminal and vice versa. At this point,
an error may be declared if the terminal does not authenticate the
card or if the card balance is too low to complete the transaction.
A distinctive error signal via beeper 64 may be sounded at this
point. The clerk will then be able to explain why the transaction
will not go through.
Assuming step 75 results in no errors being declared, step 77 is
executed to calculate a new card balance and write that new balance
to card 18. Step 78 then executes to send a transaction message to
the terminal 100. The content of this message depends on the
established transaction protocol which is not relevant to this
invention. Step 79 is then executed to operate the beeper to signal
the cardholder that the transaction has been completed and the card
can be withdrawn. Step 80 checks for card withdrawal and either
returns to the start of the program if Yes is returned, or operates
the beeper again if the card is left in too long.
FIG. 10A illustrates a modification of FIG. 10, starting at point
A, in which sequential displays of the transaction parameters are
provided after the transaction is completed so the cardholder can
verify all the amounts and the correctness of the transaction.
These steps relate to the single line display of FIGS. 7A-7C.
FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative DO TRANSACTION program
associated with a multiline display of FIGS. 8A-8C. Basically, two
different program paths are illustrated with the path taken
depending on which condition is satisfied first, the condition of
testing step 110 for receipt of the transaction amount or step 111
for insertion of the card. These two pathways may represent two
separate interrupt process modules which execute in an order
depending on which interrupt occurs first.
If the transaction amount is received first so that step 110
returns YES, then step 112 executes to display the transaction
amount on the center line of display 56C as shown in FIG. 8C and
then the program loops until a card is inserted. Card security
check 114 and card balance read and display 116 are then
executed.
If the card insertion occurs first, step 121 and following steps
are executed to run card and terminal security checks (step 121),
read and display the card balance (step 123) and then loop until
the transaction amount is received (step 124), followed by display
of transaction amount (step 125).
Both of these execution paths merge at point B and this is followed
by execution of a checking step on adequacy of the card balance to
cover the transaction amount. If this returns NO, an error is
declared (the beeper is operated with distictive error signal, and
the card balance display may be flashed to show the cardholder what
is the transaction error).
If the card balance is adequate, step 118 executes to calculate a
new card balance, and write it to card 18 as well as display it on
line 3 of the display. This is followed by sending a transaction
message in step 119 and then operating the beeper to signal
transaction complete in step 120. The program will then loop until
the card is withdrawn and return to the beginning after card
withdrawal.
It should be apparent that the above descriptions of various
embodiments of the method and apparatus of this invention are given
by way of example only and that numerous modifications could be
made without departing from the principles of the invention as set
forth in the following claims.
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